Electric therapeutic device.



F. F. BURDICK.

ELECTRIC THERAPEUTIC DEVICE.

' APPHCATION FILED JUNE 6,1914- 1,183,949.- Patented May 23, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I- Wz'z'ness e5 7 2/625, W I g me/Va w @5- fr2 en 1301" i F. F. BURDICK. ELECTRIC THERAPEUTIC DEVICE. AIP PLICATION FILED JUNE 6.1914.

00 11 H T 3m 2m T Mu Au w 1W2 n e l U a D1 1&83249 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

FRED F. BURDICK, OF MILTON; WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC THERAPEUTIC DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRED F. Bol vian, a citizen of the United States of America, and

' a resident of Milton, county of Rock, and

State of Wisconsin 'have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Therapeutic Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The main ob3ect's of this invention are to provide an improved form of electro-thera-,

peutic device constructed so as to be conveniently supported and adjusted for use in treating any part of the body of a pat ent whether the patient is in a standing, s1tt1ng, or lying posture; to provide an improved construction of the casing for a device of this kind which will permit it to rest on the ,floor or a table when being used or be sus-.

pended from a supporting standard, to provide improved means for supporting said casing in any desired angular position whether on the floor or table or suspended from said standard; to provide an improved arrangement of friction means for preventing slipping of said casing when resting on the floor or a tablegand to provide an improved arrangement of guards on said device adapted to protect the body of the patient or other objects when treatment is being given.

.An illustrative embodiment of thls invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which 1 Figure 1 is a persp ective view of the de vice as it is used on the floor. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional detail of the same. Fig. 3 is a'perspective view of the device suspended in an inverted position on a supporting standard. Fig. 4 is an i v that the device is light and may be easily handled. Incandescent applicators or heaters in the form of a plurality of incandescent electric lamps 4: are suitably arranged Specification of I .etters Patent.

Application filed .1" une 6, 1914. Serial No. 843,386.

on the heads 2 and 3 of the device substan- I tially as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings so that they are exposed through the open side of the casing.

A reflector 5 is secured within the casing 1 for the purpose of reflecting the heat generated by the electric lamps 4:. This reflector is also made of aluminum having the inner face thereof polished, and having its middle portion spaced away from the casing 1 so as to provide a space 6 extending ing 1 so as to give it a finished appearance and alsoto absorb such heat as penetrates the insulating lining 7 and reaches the easing 1. a l

The support for the device comprises a yoke-member 9, preferably made of fi'at metal, and having transversely disposed parallel arms 10, the ends of which are bent inwardly toward each other so as to form shoulders 11. Annular grooves 12 are formed in the heads 2 and 3 soas to provide annular rims or shoulders thereon which constitute parallel ways which the shoulders 11 engage. The shoulders 11 bind in the ways when the supporting member 9 is tilted with respect to the casing. The yoke-member 9 being made of'resilient material, is adapted to have the arms 10 sprung for the purpose of inserting or withdrawing the ends' 11 from the grooves 12. In the construction herein shown, the shoulders 11 will bind in the grooves 12 when the yoke-member 9 is shifted so that the arms 10 are out of a radial position with respect to said device but will move freely therein when said yoke-member is maintained in radial position. The yoke-member is adapted to be for suspending the casing in an inverted position from a standard or for holding the casing in any angular position when resting on the floor or a table.

In order that, the device may be held against shifting when used on the floor or a table, a pair of rubber tires 13 are secured in grooves 13 'formed'in the rims of the heads 2 and 3 and are held in place by having the wire cores 13 thereof secured at to the casing 1. The rods 15 along the edges of the casing are offset above the plane of the rods 14, so as to provide heel rests for the feet when resting upon the rods 14. Other rods 16 are arranged across the heads 2-and 3 transversely to the rods 14, .and are bowed downwardly along the middle thereof toward the casing 1. These are adapted to space the device a suitable distance away from the patients body when it is used with the patient lying down.

The rods 14, 15 and 16 are all covered with when the patient is lying down, the device is attached to the rods 18, as shown in Fig. 3. In cases where the patient is not confined to the bed. and is able to move about, the device would preferably be used on the floor or on a table, so as to provide a rigid support for the supporting base 17. The device would then be adjusted over that part rubber tubing, as shown in Fig. 2, so that ,of the body which is to be treated, and

they are insulated from the heat of the lamps 4 and thereby prevent burning of any objects that come into contact therewith.

When the device is to be used in a sus-' pended positiomthe yoke-member 9 is secured to rods or bars 18 supported on a base member 17. The base member 17 is preferably formed of flat metal and as herein shown is bent to U-shape and has the ends ofthe parallel legs thereof bent so as to form upwardly disposed parts 19. Apertures 20 are formed in the tops of the upstanding parts and are adapted to receive the rods 18. The inner ends of the rods 18 are received between the pins 21 of the rack 22 secured to the base member 17 between the legs of the upstanding parts 19, so that thug) rods are maintained in their angular posi-" tions with respect to said base.

The attachment for securing the yoke 9 to the rods 18 comprises clamp members 23 attached to each of the arms 10 of said yokemeinber. Each clamp is pivoted at one of its ends to the corresponding arm 10, and adjustably secured at its other end by means of a bolt and wing-nut 24;. The clamps 23 and arms 10 adjacent thereto are bent so as to more firmly grip the rods 18. Springs 25 embrace the rods 18 inwardlv of the upstanding parts 19 and normally urge the rods 18 into contact with the racks 22.

The lamps l are connected by a conductor cord 26 to a source of electricity and to a suitable controlling switch 27, by means of which the number of lights in service, and. consequently the heating effect, may be varied during the operation of the device.

The operation of the device shown is as follows: If the device is to be used for treatment of the feet or lower limbs, it is usually set on the floor, as shown in Fig. 1 and is maintained in any suitable angular position by shifting the yoke 9 so that the ends 11 thereof will bind in the grooves 12 when the yoke rests on the floor, with the arms 10 out brought into the desired proximity thereto.

A sufficient number of lights are then turned on to give the desired degree of heat. Should the patient be confined to the bed, the device is used by placing the supporting base 17 under the patient. In such a case it is likely that the supporting base 17 would be tilted downwardly on account of the sagging of the mat-tressfand in order to have the rods 18 vertical, it would be necessary to set them at-an inclined angle to the base 17 as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 5. This would permit the device to be supported in a horizontal position. then be moved as close to the patient as desired by adjusting it along the rods 18 by means of the clamps 23. When the device is used in such an inverted position, a

canopy or curtain may also be used, fastened around the edges of the device and draped about the patient.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

1. In an electric-therapeutic device, the combination of a casing having an electric heater arranged therein, substantially annular ways on said casing, a supporting member, and shoulders on said supporting member arranged to slidably engage said ways, said shoulders being adaptedto bind on said ways when said member is tilted whereby said member is adapted to support said casing in various angular positions.

2. In an electro-therapeiltic device, the combination of a casing having an electric heater arranged therein. substantially annular and parallel ways on said casing at the ends thereof, a suppqrting member, and shoulders on said supporting member ar- The device may ranged to slidably engage said ways, said shoulders being adapted to bind on said ways when said member is tilted whereby said member is adapted to support said casing in various angular positions.

3. In an electro-therapeutic device, the combination of a casing having an electric heater arranged therein, substantially annular and parallel ways on said casing at the ends thereof, a supporting member, shoulders 011 said supporting member arranged to slidably engage Said ways, said shoulders being adapted to bind on said ways when said member is tilted, and means on said member adapted for connection to a supporting standard whereby said casing may be supported thereon in various angular positions.

4. In an electro-therapeutic device, the combination of a casing having one side thereof open, parallel annular rims on said casing adapted to support said casing with the open side thereof upward, substantially annular and parallel ways formed on said casing, a supporting member having sliding engagement with said Ways and adapted to grip the ways when tilted relatively thereto whereby said casing may be supported in various angular positions by said rims and member.

5. In an electro-therapeutic device, the combjgiation of a casing having electric heaters arrangd therein, said casing having an-. nular grooves formed thereon adjacent to its ends, and a supporting member having transversely disposed parallel arms, the ends of which are bent inwardly and shaped to be received in said grooves, said ends being adapted to bind in said grooves when tilted relatively thereto whereby said member is adapted to support said casing in various angular positions. I

6. In an electro-therapeutic device, the combination of a casing having electricheaters arranged therein, said casing having annular grooves formed thereon adjacent to its ends, a supporting member having transversely disposed parallel arms the ends of which are bent inwardly and shaped to be received in said grooves, said ends being adapted to bind in said grooves when tilted relatively thereto, and clamp members secured to said arms and adapted to coact therewith to engage a supporting standard, whereby said casing may be suspendedin various angular positions.

T. In an electro-therapeutic device, the combination of a casing having annular grooves formed therein at each end, a yoke member having transversely disposed arms the ends of which are bent inwardly so as to be received in said grooves, said ends being shaped to bind in said grooves for supporting said casing when said member is tilted with respect thereto, a supporting base, uprights carried by said base, and clamping means on said yoke member adapted to grip said rods for supporting' said casing in operative position.

8. In an electro-therapeutic device, the combination of a casing having annular grooves formed therein at each end, a yoke member having transversely disposed arms the ends of which are bent inwardly so as to be received in said grooves, said ends being shaped to bind in said grooves for supporting said casing when said member is tilted with respect thereto, a supporting bash having the ends thereofbent to form upstanding parts having apertures in the tops thereof, racks secured to said supporting base between the arms of said upstanding parts and upright rods supported by said base member by being inserted through said apertures and having the ends engaging said racks, and clam members carried by said yoke member and adapted to engage said rods for supporting said device.

Signed at Chicago this 3rd day of June,

. FRED F. BURDICK. Witnesses EUGENE A. RUMMLER, WILLIAM E. HANN. 

